Ex-senior manager in court for bribery and fraud over property deal
2017-12-22
A former senior manager of a property agency appeared in the Eastern Magistracy today (December 22) after being charged by the ICAC with soliciting $40,000 from vendors of a property for negotiating with purchasers for a higher purchase price and defrauding the purchasers of an extra agency commission amounting to $53,700 in the transaction.
Ng Ngai-pan, 37, former senior principal account manager of Centaline Property Agency Limited (Centaline), who was charged on Wednesday (December 20), faced a charge of agent soliciting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
The defendant also faced a charge of fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance, and an alternative charge of theft, contrary to Section 9 of the Theft Ordinance.
No plea was taken today. Principal Magistrate Ms Bina Chainrai adjourned the case to January 26 next year for mention.
At the material time, the defendant was a senior principal account manager of Centaline. He was tasked to procure sale and purchase transactions of properties, including arranging flat tours, and negotiating with vendors and purchasers about property prices and agency commissions to Centaline.
One of the charges alleged that between January 1 and February 29, 2016, the defendant, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, solicited $40,000 from a vendor couple for negotiating with a purchaser couple for a higher purchase price in the sale and purchase of a property at a private residential estate in Tseung Kwan O.
The other charge alleged that between July 8 and 11, 2016, the defendant falsely represented to the husband of the purchaser couple that they were required to pay $61,700 to Centaline as agency commission for their purchase of the property, and with intent to defraud, induced the husband to issue a cheque for $8,000 in favour of Centaline and hand over cash of $53,700 to him, which resulted in benefit to him or in prejudice to the husband.
The remaining alternative charge alleged that on an unknown day of July 2016, the defendant stole the $53,700 belonging to the husband.
The defendant was granted cash bail of $10,000. He was also ordered to reside at his reported address, inform the ICAC 24 hours prior to any change of address, and not to contact prosecution witnesses directly or indirectly.
Centaline had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Chris Chan.
Ng Ngai-pan, 37, former senior principal account manager of Centaline Property Agency Limited (Centaline), who was charged on Wednesday (December 20), faced a charge of agent soliciting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
The defendant also faced a charge of fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance, and an alternative charge of theft, contrary to Section 9 of the Theft Ordinance.
No plea was taken today. Principal Magistrate Ms Bina Chainrai adjourned the case to January 26 next year for mention.
At the material time, the defendant was a senior principal account manager of Centaline. He was tasked to procure sale and purchase transactions of properties, including arranging flat tours, and negotiating with vendors and purchasers about property prices and agency commissions to Centaline.
One of the charges alleged that between January 1 and February 29, 2016, the defendant, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, solicited $40,000 from a vendor couple for negotiating with a purchaser couple for a higher purchase price in the sale and purchase of a property at a private residential estate in Tseung Kwan O.
The other charge alleged that between July 8 and 11, 2016, the defendant falsely represented to the husband of the purchaser couple that they were required to pay $61,700 to Centaline as agency commission for their purchase of the property, and with intent to defraud, induced the husband to issue a cheque for $8,000 in favour of Centaline and hand over cash of $53,700 to him, which resulted in benefit to him or in prejudice to the husband.
The remaining alternative charge alleged that on an unknown day of July 2016, the defendant stole the $53,700 belonging to the husband.
The defendant was granted cash bail of $10,000. He was also ordered to reside at his reported address, inform the ICAC 24 hours prior to any change of address, and not to contact prosecution witnesses directly or indirectly.
Centaline had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Chris Chan.